How Many Receptacle Outlets Are Allowed Per Circuit

How many receptacles can you wire onto a 20amp circuit breaker? How to Know the Number of Outlets to Wire on a Circuit.

Guide to Wiring Outlet CircuitsElectrical Question: How many receptacles can you wire onto a 20amp circuit breaker?

This electrical wiring question came from:
David, a Handyman from Millmont, Pennsylvania.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question David.

The Number of Electric Outlets on a Circuit

Application: Wiring Receptacle Outlets.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed Electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and a Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools and the number of outlets that will be replaced.
Precaution: Identify the outlet circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring.
Notice: Installing additional outlet wiring should be done with a permit and be inspected.

Planning Electrical Wiring for Outlet Circuits

Identify the Area where the Outlets will be Installed

The answer to this question of how many receptacle outlets can be wired to one circuit will be relevant to the location of the receptacle circuit and what the outlets will be used for, or the designated use for the circuit as it pertains to the load that will be placed on the circuit.

This will include identifying specific equipment or devices that will be connected to the circuit.

As the definition of the circuit is identified then we will need to see if there are specific codes that must be followed in order to be code compliant.

Electrical Codes and Outlet Circuits

The code is very clear about certain circuits that are installed in some locations of the home. Even more than this, the actual type of circuit may be addressed as well, such is the case for bedroom outlet receptacles.

Bedroom Outlet Circuits

Bedroom outlet circuits must be protected by an AFCI circuit breaker, or an AFCI receptacle outlet must be installed in the first position of all the other receptacle outlets.

For bedroom areas it is common to have ten to twelve outlets on one circuit, which may be 15 amp or 20 amp.

Keeping in mind the loads that are placed on some bedroom circuits by a busy family, it may be best to have two bedrooms on one twenty amp AFCI circuit, if the exact intended load will allow.

Kitchen Outlets and Small Appliance Circuits

The kitchen is another example where specific circuits must be installed and loaded according to the national electrical code.

Kitchen counter top receptacle outlets used for small appliances is another example.

Small appliance kitchen circuit must be twenty amp with GFCI protection, and a minimum of two of these circuits are required.

The Size of the Home

The actual number of circuits will depend on the size of the home.

In larger homes, it is very common to have four or more twenty amp circuits that are serving counter top receptacles.

Electrical Tip when Planning Electrical Wiring for Outlet Circuits

Identify the intended use for the circuit.

Identify the location of the circuit.

Consult the National Electrical Code for specifics based on the identified circuit.

Consult your local building authority to see if there are any additional requirements.

How many 110 electrical outlets can be run on a single circuit. I am being told that, in my garage, they can only run three (two wall outlets and one garage door plug in) electrical outlets from one line. To add more outlets I would need to add more lines. They also told me I could only run a refrigerator on a separate line (nothing else plugged into the outlet. Is all of this true? Or, am I being sold a bill of goods?

Hi Don,
The number of outlets on each circuit will depend on what the outlets will be used for, and what will be connected to the circuit. Higher load amperage will require more circuits, and in some cases a dedicated circuit. The single outlet for the refrigerator is correct, which allows a refrigerator in the garage connected to a single receptacle not to be GFCI protected. Refrigerators are know to trip GFCI outlets causing a great loss from food spoiling. Additionally, electrical codes for GFCI protection relating to garage outlets and connected appliances and equipment must be considered as per your specific project.
Be Safe,
Dave

Hi Robert,
Although a 20 amp circuit should handle all of those devices, it is best to have the GFCI protected outlets on a separate circuit. However if the vent fan or light are located over the tub or shower then they must be GFCI protected as well. The concern is that the vanity light should not go off if the GFCI circuit is tripped off because someone will be left in a dark bathroom. I like to wire the circuit from a regular breaker to the first outlet location which would be a GFCI, and configure the wiring connections to provide GFCI protection as required, which is a matter of branching out to the devices from either the LINE or LOAD side of the GFCI outlet.
I hope that helps,
Dave

You need to complete an electrical layout of a new single family residence. You plan to locate 5 separtate duplex receptacles on a branch circuit that feeds two walls of a large living room area. The circuit will be fed by a single AFCI-type 20A circuit breaker. Is it allowable to install 15A rated receptacles in all five locations on that circuit?